NewStats: 3,261,659 , 8,174,666 topics. Date: Friday, 30 May 2025 at 12:05 AM a2i2s

To Save Submarine Cables, Lagos-Calabar Highway Leaves Shoreline, Reverts To Original Route For 9 Kilometres

Works Minister Dave Umahi says the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway will revert to the gazetted alignment between kilometres 16 and 25.

Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has announced that the federal government will do away with the proposed new route of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway from kilometres 16 to 25 of the 47-kilometre highway, and revert to the gazetted alignment.

Umahi disclosed this in Lagos at the 3rd stakeholders meeting of the coastal highway project on Thursday.

During a two-hour session that included presentations and a question and answer segment, Umahi invited representatives of telecommunications companies affected by the ongoing project, residents of Okun Ajah community, as well as other stakeholders, to make a case for why the new alignment should be altered.

He revealed that reverting to the old alignment would see 750 houses demolished (though illegally built he said), while the new alignment will lead to the demolition of 490 houses. According to him it was a tough decision either way. He urged those for and against to speak.

Highlighting the concerns of MTN, 2Africa and other telecoms companies was the Group CEO of Machine and Equipment Consulting of Africa.

“We have three critical infrastructure that are located on one spot. One is the 2Africa submarine cable that cuts across 33 countries connecting about three billion people. That cable landed at Mopo and where it landed, the West African cable systems (WACS) had already been located there about 17 years ago.

“We have a mega IPP which is to provide power to the 2Africa cable and the WACS cable. The power plant is a 50 megawatt power plant expected to this infrastructure.

“The (new) corridor is ing right on the submarine cable and the other side is on the IPP. You cannot have the submarine cables without power. They will not function. The submarine cable is a critical national security infrastructure. If it is affected, everybody will be affected,” he said.

He made reference to the recent subsea cable diruptions that caused internet outages in several countries across Africa.


“Two months ago, there was a challenge as far as Cote d’Ivoire but a significant part of Africa was blanked out. Our appeal today is in view of the fact that this is not just a private project, it’s a national project, it’s the internet gateway to the nation and it’s linked to national security.

“We are therefore appealing that for this critical infrastructure located at Mopo, that the road be diverted back to the original gazette.

“We welcome and commend the federal government for building this road, we think this is a major national infrastructure that enhances development, but we’re appealing that for such national telecommunications infrastructure, government should find a way of being sensitive to that reality, and divert the road away from this critical national infrastructure.”

Following several interventions and appeals catering to diverse interests, Umahi said:

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have our proposal here and we have the old alignment, the gazetted alignment.

“To the glory of God, to solve MTN, 2Africa and Okun Ajah community (complaints), we are diverting completely from the new alignment and we are reing back to our new alignment at kilometer 25. Congratulations.”

This revelation was met with rancorous applause and palpable relief by residents of Okun Ajah, who had previously expressed their concerns over the potential demolition of their properties, including ancestral homes, due to the controversial highway project.

The revised alignment – apart from preserving the community’s heritage – also avoids disrupting essential infrastructure, especially submarine communications cables. Stakeholders present hailed what they deemed an indication of a responsive and adaptive approach by government to their concerns.

Umahi made sure to reveal that the decision was not necessarily because of pushback from the communities affected, but solely due to President Bola Tinubu’s intervention.

Following Umahi’s pronouncement, of the Okun Ajah community praised the Tinubu istration for the decision not to the new coastal alignment through their axis.

Umahi invited those present to him in welcoming President Tinubu, who will be in Lagos to flag-off the coastal road project on Sunday.

https://www.arise.tv/to-save-submarine-cables-lagos-calabar-highway-leaves-shoreline-reverts-to-original-route-for-9-kilometres/

At the end of the day whoever is not affected will approve the project and whoever is affected will be strongly against it. Then of course there are those who are not affected in any way but their strong hatred for the country will always make them criticise everything.

......i thought the project has commenced on nairaland according to miscreants.

Chai! After landmark

Una business

Acting before proper thinking
Las las nothing will take place

arithletics:
After destroying billions of naira worth of businesses! why not destroy the cables too and anything else stopping you oga engineer?

Lunatics in power!

Honestly, this quack engineer ruffles everyone up, including journalists because he is not as bright (smart) as he projects himself to be.

This is my greatest worry with the "Umahis" period.

It's alright... Ever since Peter Obi won Tinubu in Lagos... The hidden agenda is to reduce Igbos investment in Lagos....

We told you guys earlier that the detour from the original plan was to target Landmark, BATerias disagreed.

Now the chicken has come home to roost

This man, something is wrong with him. I said it that no sane government will build a road on the beach front taking away such privilege. So people built on the old plan but you decided to come and destroy the beach when you don’t have the type where you are coming from. The old plan is even more straightforward. Disappointed sha that Tinubu approved that madness. Very crazy plan. These people cannot be trusted.

We were call names when we asked if EIA was carried out.

If the needfuls were done, we won't be on this page.

The greatest risk is not even the submarine cables but most shore communities will loose they ancestorial home forever due to the unprecedented impact of coastal erosion caused by this construction.

I have been to Akassa and have had first hand experience and witnessed the devastation.

No be bean.

Just imagine! When we asked why is the budget cost shrouded in secrecy and where is the environmental impact assessment plan for this super highway, Dave Umahi and the stupid mummified zombies of this government were calling people names.

Let me quickly clear some serious misconceptions and half information going around.I have learnt in my little time on earth that an ignorant man is far better than a man with half information
For the Records,the Lagos to Calabar Road is still ongoing,intact the project is going on as I type this comment. What Government has done is as follows:

1) Stop the Realignment bring proposed for some portions of the Road
From Km Zero or 0 (which is the starting point in Victoria Island) to Kilometer 19,there was some adjustment done on the Coastal Road to accommodate properties and minimise losses
This was done with a view to reduce the enormous loss of properties and reduce compensation to be paid by Government

2) Continue with the Gazetted or Already earmarked areas as contained in the original design
This is what the Honourable Minister spoke about yesterday, From Km 19 to Km 25 of the Coastal Road Design,the Government will stick to the original design of the Road
There were plans to redesign the Route to keep reducing the cost but this was not allowed.This was caused by the sensitive nature of projects located along this 9km stretch
This included Communication Infrastructure and also communities that had existed in such places for a long while
For those familiar with Lagos State and areas around Eti Osa and Ibeju Lekki, you will understand that this group of people will prefer to be relocated instead of being paid compensation
This type of discussions would take years and it will slow down the project

At this point,it was better to go back to the Gazetted Route but why?
Because going back to the Gazetted Route will save Government a lot of money and time.Anyone who buys property on this route might not be compensated because it falls under Government Acquired Areas.I believe Government was really trying to avoid demolishing so many houses between Km 19 to 25 and that was why they tried to Redesign the Route but they will have to take the only choice left to them which is to demolish houses on the Gazetted Route

This is why I always encourage people to employ professionals to guide you before buying any property anywhere.Get a ed Surveyor to confirm the status of any property before you buy or start transactions of any kind.This is the wise thing to do because you can sue if he gives you wrong information

Meanwhile,check my signature for good property with confirmed titles in Lagos and Ogun State

WakeUpNigerians:
......i thought the project has commenced on nairaland according to miscreants.

It has. A lot of property has been demolished extremely stupidly

arithletics:
After destroying billions of naira worth of businesses! why not destroy the cables too and anything else stopping you oga engineer?Lunatics in power!

Real lunatics I tell you.

Does this new realignment saves landmark?

But when he was asked about the final Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, he seemed more concerned for the journalist’s accent than the validity of her question. Tomorrow, the d*mb he-goat will be the only one facing questions from the Efcc just like Emefiele!

DMerciful:
We told you guys earlier that the detour from the original plan was to target Landmark, BATerias disagreed.

Now the chicken has come home to roost

So does this mean this rout won't affect landmark?

It's alright... Ever since Peter Obi won Tinubu in Lagos... The hidden agenda is to reduce Igbos investment in Lagos....

They've stopped because further down the line it would affect communication and data undersea cables.

If they had stuck to the original design, both the cables and Landmark wouldn't be affected.

Clearly, Landmark destruction was the intent to make way for the Chagourys

Mrexcell:



So does this mean this rout won't affect landmark?

DMerciful:
They've stopped because further down the line it would affect communication and data undersea cables.

If they had stuck to the original design, both the cables and Landmark wouldn't be affected.

Clearly, Landmark destruction was the intent to make way for the Chagourys

What does chagoury want to do there?

Eko Atlantic 2

Mrexcell:



What does chagoury want to do there?

WakeUpNigerians:
......i thought the project has commenced on nairaland according to miscreants.

Which part of what you read correlates with this thing you typed here?

Lol, the zone- Bs will still come and hail.

After demolishing landmarks property,

after defending nonsense and insulting everyone with contrary view

After refusing to.listen to advise and cries

After insulting Obi and accusing him of instigati g the Igbos to hate the govt

Once more they have shown they all have no brain to think. Since you own all the coastal roads why are you now sparing the telecom companies? Bulldoze everything

Next, you will hear the entire project has been abandoned because of paucity of fund.....but Lagos side must be completed for show during 2027 election.

Confused country with even more Confused educated illiterates

This country is really collapsing unfortunately

Lol
Dumb and foolish rulers. Do first, think later. Monumental disgrace.

DMerciful:
Eko Atlantic 2

OK I see but Eko Atlantic 1 is not yet fully developed?

2mch:
This man, something is wrong with him. I said it that no sane government will build a road on the beach front taking away such privilege. So people built on the old plan but you decided to come and destroy the beach when you don’t have the type where you are coming from. The old plan is even more straightforward. Disappointed sha that Tinubu approved that madness. Very crazy plan. These people cannot be trusted.

It's like they were scheming to snatch up that piece of land... All it takes is a keen eye to uncover their plans. Wouldn't be shocked if that beachfront is now transformed into a captivating tourist hotspot for Ekp Atlantic City.